The Guwahati based journalist and a regular contributor to 'Assam Times', Nava Thakuria has been awarded with the first media fellowship on refugee issues sponsored by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research (C-NES). The Fellowship with the theme, 'The Chins of Myanmar: Refugee Life in a Distant Neighbour', with a focus on Protection and Durable Solutions for the Chin ethnic group from Western Myanmar, which lives in challenging conditions in the Northeast as well as in New Delhi starts from 1 March to 31 May.
The announcement was made by a Committee comprising Mr. Sanjoy Hazarika, C-NES Managing Trustee, journalist and editor, Ms. Pamela Philipose, Independent Journalist and Ms. Nayana Bose of the UNHCR on February 15 last. The awardee Mr Thakuria has written extensively on issues related to Burma (Myanmar). Thakuria is a regular contributor to many acclaimed newspaper and portals based in Guwahati, Kolkata, New Delhi, Dhaka, Hong Kong, Seoul, London and California and his special areas of interest include socio-political developments in Northeast India with Burma, Bhutan and Bangladesh
It may be mentioned that Mizoram, a Burma bordering Northeast Indian state gives shelter to nearly 40,000 Chin refugees. Those Burmese citizens fled their country to get rid of the atrocities of the present regime named State Peace and Development Council. Led by the Senior General Than Shwe, the SPDC is identified as one of the worst human rights violators in the globe.
The refugees started fleeing Burma after the 1988 uprising for restoration of democracy in the land of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Thousand of Burmese have already sacrificed their precious lives supporting the pro-democracy movement led by the Great Lady. Many of them left Burma to live an exile live in its neighbouring Thailand, India, Bangladesh and many other countries around the globe.
"The effort is to build capacity and better understanding among journalists interested in refugee issues, especially at the middle-level, but also to publish their findings and observations extensively in the Indian media," said Sanjoy Hazarika, Managing Trustee of C-NES. It is an opportunity for the journalist to look at issues relating to refugee movements into the country, the condition of refugees, the problems of mixed migration (refugee movements combined with economic/environmental international migrants).
Carol Batchelor, Chief of Mission, UNHCR India, while mentioning the fellowship to study the refugee issue said, "It is hoped that through this opportunity for an in-depth review of refugee issues, journalists will be strengthened in their efforts to inform public opinion." There are two other fellowships, applications for which are welcome, one on "The need for a refugee specific legislation in India" (to be announced in May 2008) and another on Sri Lankan refugees (to be announced in August 2008). The programme is aimed to research and write on the issue comprising the protection and durable solution of the refugee problem.
31 Aug 2014 - 6:05am | AT News
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Preparations for the coming Seventh Elephant festival has begun along with the construction work of the pendal that formally started on January 18. The DC of Golaghat planted the Laikhuta with a...
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Debajit Changmai, the youth from Sivasagar made the region proud by winning a top technical award in the recently declared 58th national film awards. Changmai won the award for re-recording of...
The first Horizon Series Cultural Programme of the year 2013 was successfully held on 5th January 2013 from 6 pm onwards at Soul Speak Studio hall, Dimapur. The main programme saw performances from three artistes- Chuba Jamir, Kagholi Chisi and Toshi Aier.Chuba Jamir, who is also known as Kishore Kumar of Nagaland presented songs in Hindi, Engish and Ao including his latest remix of the you tube sensation Gangnam Style in Hindi which turn out to be a hit with the audience. Kagholi Chisi sang a few cover songs and Toshi Aier presented 3 Ao songs.A regular feature of Horizon Series programme is the open mic cum jam session with the intention of giving a platform to artistes wanting to perform...
ULFA seems to have stepped up its activities in the run up to the Republic Day. A hardcore ULFA militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Assam's Tinsukia district. Acting on a tip-off about the presence of a group of five ULFA cadres in Hebeda village, police launched an operation in the area.In an ensuing encounter the militant was killed while others managed to escape. The slain militant was identified as Debojit Duara alias Wangli Asom. His elder brother, also a suspected ULFA militant, was killed in an encounter in 2007. Police recovered a grenade and some ammunition from the slain militant. A massive combing operation was launched in the area to arrest other...
Security forces recovered two Improvised Explosive Devices from Nagajan area near Duliajan on Friday evening.The IEDs were planted near oil pipe lines in the area. Later, the army's bomb squad team defused the IEDs. ULFA’s anti-talk faction led by Paresh Baruah is active in upper Assam and is trying to trigger explosions in few areas ahead of the Republic Day.
Massive protest over rape and molestation is spreading across the state on Saturday. Members of the All Assam Association of the Deaf staged a demonstration here to protest against the rape of a mentally challenged woman allegedly by CRPF men in Lakhimpur district.Wearing pieces of black cloth across their mouths and held placards, the protestors shouted slogans demanding capital punishment for the culprits.The protest was triggered by an incident in North Lakhimpur, when two CRPF personnel allegedly raped a mentally challenged woman in Chaulduwa area in Lakhimpur town on Thursday.
Tinsukia police have arrested five persons for gangraping a 13-year-old girl on Friday. The incident took place at Sukanpukhuri tea estate under Makum police station on the intervening night of January 2-3 after one of the accused, Jogeshwar Mali, lost his cellphone.According to police, Tusu incited her husband and his friends to punish the girl and the four caught hold of the girl at a lonely stretch of the estate and raped her.The police arrested Tusu, Mali and his friends Sanesh Nayak, Tirnath Mali, Ram Chandra Patnaik after the girl told the family about the incident.
A lower court in Lakhimpur has jailed a CRPF jawan on Friday charging him with raping a physically challenged woman on Thursday. Three of his colleagues are on the run. The incident took place at Chauldhowa village. According to eyewitness, about four CRPF personnel forcibly took the physically challenged woman, who was passing by the CRPF camp on NH 52 in the area to the nearby jungle. Some locals raised an alarm. While they managed to catch Mohan Singh, the others fled. The victim has been sent for medical examinations.
In a huge setback for Congress ahead of the panchayat elections, a senior Congress leader in BTAD area has been sent to jail on Friday a day after he was caught red handed when he found with a woman Thursday morning. BTC Congress Committee chief convener Bikramsingh Brahma who stayed at the woman's house had forcefully slept with the victim to be discovered by her husband.After being thrashed by local residents, police produced him before the Chirang court on Friday where he was remanded to judicial custody. The Congress has expelled Brahma from the party.
Every year the Education Research and Development Foundation (ERDF) honors eminent personalities of the state in recognition of their contribution in different fields to mark the advent of New Year. This year ERDF selected some senior citizens of the state to wish good health and long life so that they can continue their service to the society.The 2013 edition of the felicitation programme was held at the Regional Institute of Science & Technology (RIST) for ten senior citizens. The function began with welcome address of the dignitaries to the Dais by N I Laskar, Director, Corporate Communication ERDF. Dr H K Baruah, Director (Academics), ERDF welcomed the guests. Felicitation of...
A cycle rally was set on the roll at Bokakhat this morning with an objective to generate awareness among the masses for conservation of precious wildlife in Kaziranga National Park and its fringe areas in Assam. The rally has been organised by Aaranyak, a society working for bio-diversity conservation in association with Upatyaka, a conservation organization and State Forest Department.The rally which will culminate on January 5 at Garhpal, Sootea in Sonitpur district in the North Bank of Brahmaputra, was flagged off today at Bokakhat by local MLA Arun Phukan in presence of Kaziranga NP Director N.K. Vasu, prominent citizens of Bokakhat, officer-in-charge of Bokakhat Police station,...
Assam Times "Reporter"
The Assam Times is an online news portal that tells the tales of people from all walks of life. “Assam” here does not confine to today’s geographical boundary and goes beyond the barriers. We welcome news and articles on/from the entire northeastern states - Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Sikkim and Meghalaya. First time writers, please send a short note about yourself along with your Facebook/Twitter ID, contact details and a small photograph for your Reporter's ID Card.
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